Cranston begins its own inspection of 7 bridges and 7 culverts

At a site visit under the Dean Street Bridge, on March 1st, Cranston Mayor Ken Hopkins held an announcement that the Pare Corporation began planned inspections of Cranston owned bridges and culverts. The mayor was accompanied by Acting Public Works Department Director Justin Mateus as they observed the actual inspection by Pare’s representatives.

“In January I announced that the city would be undertaking planned inspections and evaluations of Cranston’s bridges and culverts as part of our watchdog responsibilities of the city infrastructure,” Hopkins stated. “I am delighted Pare was able to get underway and I found the visit informative as to their techniques for inspections, timetable for a formal report and to be able to ask questions right under the bridge structure.”

Hopkins explained that the first phase of the inspection work is a comprehensive review of the structural conditions and then to develop a list of suggested repairs or rehabilitation needs.

“I was pleased to get a first-hand opportunity to understand the various issues to be considered in these bridge inspections,” he said. “Being proactive on this is in the interest of public safety and will extend the life of these structures.”

Seven (7) city owned bridges and seven (7) culverts will be analyzed.

Pare will be looking at these city owned bridges:

1. Gansett Avenue over Washington Secondary Bike Path
2. Dean Parkway over Washington Secondary Bike Path
3. Phenix Avenue over Furnace Hill Brook
4. Garden City Drive over Pocasset River
5. Haven Avenue over Pocasset River
6. Main Street over Clark Brook
7. Kimberly Lane over Furnace Hill Brook

The following culverts in the city inventory will be assessed:

1. Natick Avenue over an unknown tributary to Meshanticut Brook 
2. Natick Avenue at Furnace Hill Brook
3. Furnace Hill Road at Furnace Hill Brook
4. Phenix Avenue over unknown tributary to Meshanticut Brook
5. Beechwood Drive over Furnace Hill Brook
6. Wilbur Avenue over Meshanticut Brook
7. Dyer Aver new #1315 

Hopkins noted that when the studies are done the city will develop a plan for short term repairs, or if more significant work is done, a financing and construction schedule for those improvements will be developed.

“Today is the first day of important work to protect the public and to keep these assets in proper condition for the next several decades,” Hopkins concluded.

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